IPL 13 In UAE: Double Headers, Covid-19 Substitutes, Pruned Squads Make Season 13 A First Of Sorts

Well spaced out double headers, a reduced , truncated team squads, Covid-19 substitutes, limited fans to games were some of the well thought out initiatives taken by the BCCI think tank in its IPL General council meeting that took place on Sunday.

Photo: AFP

It is very much official and fully confirmed that the thirteenth edition of the Indian Premier League will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 19 to November 10. The final confirmation over the UAE hosting IPL 2020 was given a seal with the Indian Government giving its green signal to the BCCI to hold the flagship T20 league outside India and in the UAE.. This development was brought in public domain after the IPL governing council met on Sunday. The thirteenth edition of the IPL will be unique in many ways at it will be the first ever edition of the flagship T20 league to be played amid the Covid-19 era. Keeping the hazards and risks the Covid-19 pandemic poses to the cricketers competing in the tournament, the organizing committee has envisaged a spree of measures to keep the players safety on top priority. Well spaced out double headers, truncated team squads, Covid-19 substitutes, limited exposure of fans in games were some of the well thought out initiatives taken by the BCCI think tank in its IPL General council meeting that took place on Sunday. While the millions of cricket fans eagerly await for the full schedule of the 13th season to come out, they have got a feeler of sorts as to how the tournament will pan out in the UAE. Here is a sneak peek into the timings, dates, squads of the thirteenth edition of the Indian Premier League Dates And Timings - Early Start To Evening Games The VIVO IPL 2020 will get underway from 19th September and the 53-day old tournament will witness the title clash played on 10th November 2020. The 13th edition will also witness 10 double headers which will be well spaced out through the course of the tournament.. “We have decided to go up till November 10 and so the final will be held on a weekday for the first time. Also, to ensure that there are enough gaps between games considering the travelling and the biosecure environment and keeping all these things in mind, we will have 10 doubleheaders this season,” the official revealed.

The evening matches will witness a start 7:30 pm start, a half an hour early commencement of games than the 8 pm start over the past editions in India.

COVID Replacements In a path breaking move, Covid-19 replacements will be allowed in IPL 2020. If a player is unwell due to the novel coronavirus, he can be replaced during the course of the tournament. Pruned Team Squads The squads of the eight franchises have been shortened to 24,keeping in mind the measures to have smaller groups and ensure a higher rate of curbing the infection. Limited Fans The first couple of matches will be played behind closed doors with no crowd allowed in all three of the UAE stadiums initially. However from the midway point, limited number of fans might be allowed at stadiums, subject to approval from UAE government. Chinese Sponsors Retained BCCI has retained all sponsors for IPL 2020, including title sponsors Vivo and all other sponsors which have investments of Chinese firms in them, despite growing protests against China amid the stand-off at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. Women's IPL Women's T20 Challenge gets approval. 3-team tournament to be held between November 1 and 10 in the UAE. 4 matches will be played during IPL playoffs week.